It’s finally GO time!
Over 5,000 of the world’s top athletes will compete in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii for the 2022 VinFast Ironman World Championships. This year’s event will feature a two-day race format beginning tomorrow, Thursday, October 6, and on Saturday, October 8, where athletes will take on the most iconic one-day sporting event in the world — a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, followed by a 26.2-mile run.
The Ironman World Championships is considered to be the “Super Bowl” or “Holy Grail” of all triathlons and arguably the most anticipated race of the season as competitors test their physical strength, mental fortitude and raw perseverance against a 140.6-mile course of dramatic contrasts and punishing elements known only to the Big Island.
Thursday’s action will begin at 6:25 a.m. amidst a spectacular sunrise and a booming cannon over beautiful Kailua Bay. Thirteen wave-starts will separate the female professionals, physically challenged, all age-groups in the women’s field, and several of the men’s age groups (M25-29, M50-54, M60-64, and M65+), as they embark on a valiant 2.4-mile swim in the pristine waters along Kona’s coastline.
Athletes will then transition onto their bikes for what has notoriously become known as a hellacious hot and windy 112-mile ride through ancient and barren lava fields along the famed Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Upon reaching the turnaround in Hawi and returning to Kona, competitors are then faced with a punishing and soul-drenching 26.2-mile run that finishes on Alii Drive surrounded by an energized gathering of international media and ecstatic fans.
The excitement will continue for a second race day on Saturday, featuring the professional men and the rest of the men’s age groups (M18-24, M30-34, M35-39, M40-44, M45-49, and M55-59).
Among this year’s 42nd edition of the event, nearly 40 Big Island athletes have earned their spots on the starting line — both veterans and newbies — all ready to etch their names into the history books at what will be, another iconic event.
Good luck to everyone racing! May the current be in your favor, may the Kona winds be at your back, and may the marathon bring you miles of smiles until the finish line!
2022 Big Island Ironman World Championship Competitors
Bib # Name: Division: M/F City:
165 David Lee M55-59 M Kailua-Kona
180 Glee Jewell W60-64 F Kailua-Kona
185 Brenda Bettencourt W60-64 F Kailua-Kona
250 Jonathan Jokiel M55-59 M Kailua-Kona
300 Brenda Avery W55-59 F Kailua-Kona
322 Jonathan Tay M55-59 M Kamuela
364 Ivy McGowan W55-59 F Kailua-Kona
382 Damien Mesepa Tanoai M55-59 M Kailua-Kona
692 Melissa Schad W45-49 F Papaaloa
768 Laura Birse W40-44 F Hilo
838 Andrew Walters M45-49 M Kailua-Kona
857 Bree Wee W40-44 F Kailua-Kona
874 Elda Carreon W40-44 F Kailua-Kona
937 Mele Demille W40-44 F Waikoloa
984 David Knowles M45-49 M Kamuela
989 Douglas McDowell M45-49 M Kamuela
991 Katie Pawelski W35-39 F Kailua-Kona
1015 Lydia Blackburn W35-39 F Waikoloa
1100 Greta Dufour W35-39 F Honaunau
1200 Mikey Brown M40-44 M Kailua-Kona
1227 Laurentiu Grigore M40-44 M Waikoloa
1339 Sierra Ponthier W25-29 F Holualoa
1358 Sierra Avery W25-29 F Kailua-Kona
1376 Makayla Ward W18-24 F Kailua-Kona
1344 Skye Ombac W25-29 F Hilo
1422 Bob Crawford M75-79 M Kailua-Kona
1429 Andrew Loeb M70-74 M Kailua-Kona
1500 Charles Cholet M65-69 M Kailua-Kona
1584 Dan McCluskey M65-59 M Kailua-Kona
1647 Dan Lutkenhouse M60-64 M Papaikou
1866 Steffen Brocks M50-54 M Kailua-Kona
1889 Brandon Mailhot M35-39 M Kailua-Kona
2053 Daniel Hartong M35-39 M Hilo
2128 Martin Evangelista M50-54 M Waikoloa
2266 Chris DeMarchi M50-54 M Kailua-Kona
2297 Daniel Hill M50-54 M Waikoloa
2408 William Rickards M50-54 M Kamuela
2440 Korey Tsubota M30-34 M Waikoloa
2619 Jantzen Hing M18-24 M Kailua-Kona